Cincinnati’s 37-24 upset of No. 8 Texas Tech shook up the Big 12 race and weakened the conference’s chances of placing three teams in the College Football Playoff. BYU remains unbeaten, while Saturday night’s Houston-Utah matchup could reshape the title picture. Texas Tech now has little margin for error as it tries to stay in the mix.

By the Numbers
  • Cincinnati won 37-24, ending Texas Tech’s nine-game Big 12 winning streak.
  • JC French threw 4 touchdown passes; Cole Tabb rushed for a career-high 173 yards.
  • Texas Tech committed 3 turnovers and fell to 6-1 overall, 3-1 in conference play.
Yes, But

The loss complicates Texas Tech’s path, but the Red Raiders could still finish 11-1 and have a chance to contend for the Big 12 title and its automatic CFP berth. Their head-to-head win over Houston could matter in a tiebreaker, though outcomes involving BYU or Utah could trigger other tiebreaking rules.

State of Play
  • BYU is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 12; Utah is also unbeaten at 6-0 and 3-0.
  • Houston and Texas Tech are both 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
  • Houston-Utah and Arizona-Iowa State are key Week 8 games, while Cincinnati faces Utah and Houston in back-to-back weeks.
  • The Big 12’s five ranked teams have a scheduling-strength challenge: only one has a strength of schedule ranked in the national top 35.
What’s Next

Houston’s game at Utah could give the winner a major advantage in the conference race. Texas Tech likely needs to win out, with Arizona among the remaining challenges, while upcoming Cincinnati matchups could further disrupt the standings.

Bottom Line

Cincinnati’s upset turned the Big 12 race into a tighter, more consequential scramble—and made a three-team CFP bid harder to envision. The conference’s leading contenders will need strong finishes, not just strong résumés, to make their playoff case.